Method of controlling fogging in an Air Conditioning System and Apparatus for carrying out the Method

Abstract: A system for preventing fogging in air conditioning systems is disclosed. The system employs a strategy whereby if fogging conditions are present, the temperature of the evaporator is stepped downwardly in increments which allow the surface of the evaporator to stabilize thereby eliminating localized cold spots. The method includes determining if the prime mover or engine has begun rotating after a period of nonuse and determining if the pump or compressor has recently circulated refrigerant through the evaporator. In a preferred embodiment, lowering the temperature of the evaporator at a controlled rate includes firstly, lowering the temperature of the evaporator by a first incremental amount, then secondly, lowering the temperature of the evaporator by a second incremental amount wherein the first incremental amount is greater than the second incremental amount.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to climate control systems, and more particularly relates to a method of controlling fogging in an air conditioning system and an apparatus for carrying out the method. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Air conditioning systems of the type typically employed in vehicles, utilize a heat exchanger (sometimes referred to an evaporator) to cool the air within the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The evaporator includes one or more internal passages for allowing the flow of refrigeration fluid therethrough. Air is passed over an outside surface of the evaporator and the heat from the air is transferred to the refrigeration fluid as it passes through and evaporates within the evaporator. The refrigerant is forced through the evaporator by a refrigerant pump, commonly referred to as a compressor. The compressor is typically coupled to the engine by way of a belt drive and an electric clutch. The electric clutch engages the compressor to the engine when an electric current is applied to the clutch and disengages the compressor from the engine when the electric current ceases to flow through the clutch. Thus, the electric clutch forms a convenient means of engaging and disengaging the compressor. A temperature sensing device is typically located on the surface of the evaporator to sense the temperature of the evaporator. This temperature information is used to control the compressor clutch so that the temperature of the evaporator can be controlled. Various control schemes are known for controlling the temperature of the evaporator. One control scheme for controlling the temperature of the evaporator involves cycling the compressor clutch on and off as the sole means of controlling evaporator temperature. Systems that employ this type of control scheme have a problem known as fogging. Fogging involves the expelling of visible water vapor from the ventilation system of the vehicle. Fogging occurs when the dew point temperature of the air passing through the evaporator is reached. This can occur at localized portions of the evaporator if these locations are sufficiently cold, or it can occur if the evaporator, as a whole is too cold. In the case where the localized cold spots are responsible for causing fogging, this typically occurs when the compressor is first turned on after a relatively long period of not operating. Under these conditions, refrigerant flows through the evaporator, rapidly cooling its various surfaces and causing its surfaces to cool at different rates. As has been already explained, this promotes fogging. The prior art discloses several references concerning the control of air conditioning systems. German reference DE-A-4212680 discloses establishing a first desired cooling temperature for the evaporator based on calculated loads, establishing a second desired cooling temperature for the evaporator based on the outdoor temperature, and controlling the operating speed of the compressor based on a comparison of the actual evaporator temperature against a boundary value and a comparison of the first and second desired temperatures. Japanese reference JP-A-03070623 discloses disengaging a normally operating compressor based on a temperature of the wake flow side of the evaporator, refrigerant, and air exiting past the evaporator. Japanese reference JP-A-62268725 discloses intermittent operation of a compressor based on a difference between a reference temperature, which is lower than the outside air temperature by a prescribed temperature, and a temperature of the air on the intake side of the evaporator. Lastly, German reference DE-A-3836049 which seems to form the closest prior art discloses that upon ending the cooling operation, circulation of the refrigerant is retarded over a defined interval of time, in order to slowly raise the temperature of the evaporator to the outdoor temperature level. The resulting higher evaporator temperature allows the passing of warm air to absorb condensate on the evaporator surface. Where the system is shutdown for a prolonged period, it is suggested that the system be initially operated for a defined time at reduced refrigeration capacity to absorb condensate collected during the shutdown. Thus, it is an object of this invention to set forth a method and an apparatus which controls fogging in an air conditioning system. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of controlling fogging in an air conditioning system having an evaporator and a pump driven by a prime mover, said method including circulating refrigerant through the evaporator by said pump and determining that conditions for fogging exist in said air conditioning system, said method being characterized by initially lowering the temperature of said evaporator at a controlled rate until said temperature of said evaporator declines to a desired steady state control temperature. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for controlling fogging in an air condition system, said apparatus including an air conditioning compressor, an evaporator coupled to said compressor, a temperature sensor coupled to said evaporator, and a controller coupled between said temperature sensor and said compressor and operable to determine that conditions for fogging exist in said air conditioning system, characterized in that said controller is operable to initially cool said evaporator by lowering the temperature of said evaporator at a controlled rate until said temperature of said evaporator declines to a desired steady state control temperature. The present invention minimizes, or eliminates, fogging by controlling the rate at which the initial cooling of the evaporator takes place. This allows the different evaporator surfaces to cool at substantially the same rate and therefore no visible water vapor is expelled. Other advantages and meritorious features of the present invention will become more fully understood from the following description of the preferred embodiments, the appended claims, and the drawings, a brief description of which follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a diagramatic drawing showing the air conditioning system of the present invention employing anti-fogging logic control. Figure 2 is a logic flow diagram of the anti-fogging control strategy of the present invention. Figure 3 is a graphical representation of the steady state phase anti-fogging control methodology of the present invention. Figure 4 is a graphical representation of the floating state control phase of the anti-fogging control methodology of the present invention. Figure 5 is an amplified view of the encircled portion of the graph of Figure 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Now referring to Figure 1, the air conditioning system of the present invention includes a prime mover 10 (such as an internal combustion engine) coupled to air conditioning compressor 16 by way of shaft 12, belt 14, and clutch 15. A/C compressor 16 is adapted to circulate refrigerant through evaporator 20 by way of fluid circuit 18. Air 22 is passed across evaporator surface 24 wherein the heat is removed from the air and transferred to the refrigerant. The refrigerant flows from the evaporator to the condenser (condenser not shown) where the heat contained therein is transferred to the ambient air. Temperature sensing probe 26 is coupled to evaporator surface 24 wherein it converts the temperature of the evaporator surface to an electronic signal and transfers the signal to electronic body controller 28. Electronic body controller 28 determines if conditions are present for fogging to occur 30. A desired temperature 32 is calculated, and the strategy for calculating the desired temperature, is based on, in part, the possibility (or lack) of the occurrence of a fogging condition 30. Electronic body controller 28 uses the strategy employed in 30, 32, to determine if clutch 15 should be engaged or disengaged. This determination is encoded an electric signal and passed along to electronic engine controller 36 by way of communication buss 38. Electronic engine controller 36 supplies current to air conditioning relay 40 which, in conjunction with vehicle power source 42 engages or disengages clutch 15. The operation of the anti-fogging strategy employed within electronic body controller 28 will now be discussed. In discussing the strategy, the following variable names will be used. Variable Name Definition EVAP_TEMP The current evaporator temperature DESIRED_STEADY_ST The desired steady state temperature of the evaporator DESIRED_FLOAT_ST The desired floating temperature of the evaporator INIT_TEMP_CYC_PT Initial temperature cycle point constant Now referring to Figures 1 and 2, the first determination made by the anti-fogging strategy of the present invention, is to determine if conditions are present for causing fogging 44. If there are no conditions present for causing fogging, electronic body controller 28 enters into its steady state control scheme 46. The steady state control scheme 46 includes monitoring the temperature of evaporator 20, engaging A/C clutch 15 when the evaporator temperature exceeds the desired steady state temperature by more than 1°F ≈ 0,56° C 48, and disengaging A/C clutch 15 when the evaporator temperature is less than 1°F ≈ 0,56° C below the desired steady state temperature 50. If the evaporator temperature is not above or below the desire steady state temperature by more than 1°F ≈ 0,56° C, clutch 15 is left in its present state 52. Steady state control strategy 46 is graphically represented in Figure 3 wherein the desired steady state temperature 54 is set at a predetermined temperature level. In determining whether fogging conditions exist 44, two conditions are checked. Firstly, if the engine (or prime mover) has just been started, conditions can be present which cause fogging. Secondly, if clutch 15 has been disengaged for a period of time which exceeds a predetermined fixed period, then conditions can occur which cause fogging. If either of the above two conditions are present, conditions are present for causing fogging and the logic flow proceeds to step 56. The current evaporator temperature is read and the initial temperature cycle point constant is retrieved. The initial temperature cycle point constant is a fixed temperature value that represents the coldest temperature to which the evaporator can be lowered without cycling the compression clutch and without causing fogging. It is contemplated that the initial temperature cycle point value is determined by subjecting the vehicle to a high humidity condition and then lowering (in one step) the temperature of the evaporator from the ambient temperature to a predetermined temperature. If no fogging occurs, a lower temperature is selected and the test is run again. At some point in conducting such a test, fogging will occur and the evaporator temperature which causes fogging defines the limit for the initial temperature cycle point temperature constant. Preferably, such a test is conducted for each A/C system design contemplated because the design of an A/C system has some influence on the value of the initial temperature cycle point constant. A fixed offset (such as 2°F ≈ 1,1° C) is subtracted from the evaporator temperature and this value is compared against the initial temperature cycle point constant. The desired floating state variable is set equal to the lesser of these two values 58. A/C clutch 15 is engaged 60 and the floating state control strategy 62 commences. With the A/C clutch engaged coolant flows through evaporator 20 and begins to lower its temperature. As soon as the evaporator temperature is one degree less than the desired floating state temperature 64 a command is issued 66 to disengage A/C clutch 15. Upon disengagement of A/C clutch 15 the evaporator temperature will begin to rise as circulating air 22 is passed over evaporator surface 24. As soon as the evaporator temperature is warmed to a temperature which is one degree greater than the desired floating state temperature 68, the desired floating state temperature is decremented by predetermined amount 70 (such as 2°F ≈ 1,1° C) and a check is made to determine if the desired floating state temperature is equal to or less than the desired steady state temperature 72. If this occurs, the temperature of the evaporator has been decremented a sufficient number of times so that it now has reached the desired steady state temperature and the steady state control strategy 46 can now be used 74. If the desired floating state temperature is still greater than the desired steady state temperature than the floating state control strategy 62 is executed once again 76. The floating state control 62 of the present invention is graphically illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 shows evaporator temperature 78 having an initial value 80 and dropping therefrom as soon as refrigerant begins to flow through evaporator 20. Desired floating state temperature 82 is selected as the lesser of the initial temperature cycle point constant or two degrees less than the evaporator temperature. In most cases, the initial temperature cycle point constant will be much less than two degrees lower than the evaporator temperature and accordingly, the initial temperature cycle point constant will be the desired floating state temperature value. The use of an initial temperature cycle point value is critical to the quick initial responsiveness of the anti-fogging system of the present invention. Because the initial temperature cycle point value will, under normal conditions, be much less than two degrees less than the evaporator temperature, it allows the evaporator to initially cool at a much quicker rate than it could otherwise do if the strategy simply initiated cooling by decrementing the evaporator temperature two degrees at a time. Of course, the initial temperature cycle point constant must be carefully chosen (as disclosed in the scheme previously discussed) so that evaporator 20 does not initially cool too quickly. If evaporator 20 is allowed to cool too quickly, fogging occurs and thus the purpose of the anti-fogging strategy is defeated. Figure 4 generally depicts a control led decline of evaporator temperature 78 until the temperature of evaporator 78 is coincident with the desired steady state temperature 54. Now referring to Figure 5, an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 4 shows that clutch 15 is engaged until evaporator temperature 78 drops below desired floating state temperature 82 by approximately 1°F ≈ 0,56° C 84. When this occurs, clutch 15 is disengaged and the evaporator temperature 78 begins to rise by virtue of warm air 22 passing over evaporator 20. The temperature 78 is allowed to rise until it exceeds desired floating state temperature by approximately one degree 86. Next, A/C clutch 15 is engaged 88 and desired floating state temperature 82 is decremented by predetermined amount 90 (preferably 2°F ≈ 1,1° C). Evaporator temperature 78 begins to fall until it drops one degree below the newly adjusted desired floating state temperature 92. This cycle continues until desired floating state temperature 82 is coincident with desired steady state temperature 54 as has already been explained in conjunction with Figure 4. By allowing evaporator temperature 78 to drop one degree below desired floating state temperature 82 and then allowing it to rise one degree above desired floating state temperature 82, local cold spots in the surface 24 of evaporator 20 dissipate. Thus, this cycling strategy forms an effective means for ensuring that the temperature of evaporator surface 24 is uniform. Thus, fogging is minimized or eliminated. The foregoing detailed description shows that the preferred embodiments of the present invention are well suited for fulfill the objects of the invention. It is recognized that those skilled in the art may make various modifications or additions to the preferred embodiments chosen here to illustrate the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, fixed temperature decrements and increments of 1°F ≈ 0,56° C and 2°F ≈ 1,1° C have been discussed in conjunction with the anti-fogging strategy of the present invention. However, it is contemplated that other fixed temperature differentials of various magnitudes may be used without deviating from the teaching of the disclosed strategy. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the subject matter sought to be afforded protection thereby should be deemed to extend to the subject matter defined in the appended claims, including all fair equivalents thereof.

Claims: A method of controlling fogging in an air conditioning system having an evaporator and a pump driven by a prime mover, said method including circulating refrigerant through the evaporator by said pump and determining that conditions for fogging exist in said air conditioning system, said method being characterized by initially cooling said evaporator by lowering the temperature of said evaporator at a controlled rate until said temperature of said evaporator declines to a desired steady state control temperature. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the controlled rate includes cooling of the surfaces of the evaporator at substantially the same rate. A method according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the step of determining that conditions for fogging exist includes determining if the prime mover has recently started rotating. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the step of determining that conditions for fogging exist includes determining if the pump has recently circulated the refrigerant through the evaporator. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the step of lowering the temperature of the evaporator includes lowering said temperature of said evaporator by a first incremental amount, and then lowering said temperature of said evaporator by a second incremental amount, said first incremental amount being greater then said second incremental amount. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the step of lowering the temperature of the evaporator includes lowering said temperature of said evaporator from a first temperature to a second temperature, then allowing said temperature of said evaporator to rise to a third temperature, said third temperature being bounded between said first temperature and said second temperature, and then lowering said temperature of said evaporator from said third temperature to a fourth temperature, said fourth temperature being lower than said second temperature. An apparatus for carrying out the method of controlling fogging in an air condition system according to claim 1, said apparatus including an air conditioning compressor (16), an evaporator (20) coupled to said compressor (16), a temperature sensor (26) coupled to said evaporator (20), and a controller (28) coupled between said temperature sensor (26) and said compressor(16) and operable to determine that conditions for fogging exist in said air conditioning system, characterized in that said controller (28) is operable to initially cool said evaporator by lowering the temperature of said evaporator (20) at a controlled rate until said temperature of said evaporator (20) declines to a desired steady state control temperature. An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the controlled rate includes controlled cooling of the surfaces (24) of said evaporator (20) at substantially the same rate. An apparatus according to claims 7 or 8, characterized in that said controller (28) includes the capability to lower the temperature of the evaporator (20) by a first incremental amount, and then lower said temperature of said evaporator (20) by a second incremental amount, said first incremental amount being greater than said second incremental amount. An apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the controller (28) includes the capability to lower the temperature of the evaporator (20) from a first temperature to a second temperature, then allow said temperature of said evaporator (20) to rise to a third temperature, said third temperature being bounded between said first temperature and said second temperature, and then lower said temperature of said evaporator (20) from said third temperature to a fourth temperature, said fourth temperature being lower than said second temperature.

Inventors: BARWIN DAVID A, FLAISHANS GARY B, HENNESSEE ROBERT P, RUDZEWICZ ROBERT G, BARWIN, DAVID A., FLAISHANS, GARY B., HENNESSEE, ROBERT P., RUDZEWICZ, ROBERT G.
Applicants: CHRYSLER CORP, CHRYSLER CORPORATION
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B60H1
IPC codes: F25D21, B60H1